[Title] Message by Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio on the Inscription of "Sado Island Gold Mines" on UNESCO's World Heritage List

I am truly delighted at the inscription of the Sado Island Gold Mines as Japan's 26th World Heritage property.

From the end of the 16th century to the middle of the 19th century, while mechanization of gold mining was becoming increasingly common in other regions of the world, on Sado Island, production techniques utilizing traditional unmechanized mining methods were upgraded to the highest possible level, and it is said that in the first half of the 17th century, roughly 10 percent of the world's gold was produced on Sado Island. In this way, the Sado Island Gold Mines that achieved high-quantity, high-quality gold production comparable to mechanized mining are an exceptional case of cultural heritage unparalleled worldwide.

The site's inscription is marvelous news long-awaited by many over the 14 years since it became a candidate for World Heritage status. I wish to congratulate wholeheartedly the many local stakeholders who have made such great efforts over the years, including Niigata Prefecture and the City of Sado.

The Sado Island Gold Mines are no longer a treasure of Japan alone; they have become a treasure of the entire world. The Government of Japan will support local stakeholders' efforts so that this site will continue to be properly conserved and able to be passed down to the future.

I sincerely hope that many people visit this cultural heritage site that offers enormous appeal. I look forward to not only people within Japan but also visitors from around the world coming to the site to experience for themselves the value of the Sado Island Gold Mines.